"Business information provider Thomson Reuters is already working with the Center to come up with ways for its employees to explore and share the information about patient treatments and outcomes held in its vast databases, according to Bill Marder, senior vice president and general manager of the company's healthcare division. "We're making much better progress than we could ever achieve purely by our own in-house efforts. We could do this alone, but it would take far longer and cost far more," he says."

2. "Microsoft records Software Assurance sales as unearned revenue, whichis realized on an ongoing basis. During the average quarter, about 25percent to 35 percent of Microsoft revenue comes from unearned revenue.Microsoft recognized $6.3 billion in unearned revenue during fiscal2009 second quarter; total revenue was more than $16 billion."(http://www.microsoft-watch.com/content/corporate/microsofts_10_lucky_breaks.html)

And of course recently Microsoft announced price discounts for MS EA... like around 25%. Go figure? Also find out what happens to software ownership if you dont renew?[Read More]

"many companies, government agencies, and educational institutions canchuck at least some of them. Those based on XP -- or Windows 2000,which still has a huge installed base in government agencies -- canlook to big savings on licensing, hardware, and training costs."

According to Aaron Tan, ZDNet Asia, "Gartner estimates that only half of Microsoft's customers with more than 1,000 desktops worldwide have purchased SA for Microsoft Office or the Windows platform, and only 65 percent of this clientele are renewing the maintenance program."

While Ed Bott argues that a price increase doesnt make sense, especially given the impact on customers with Microsoft Enterprise Agreement and Software Assurance as explained below - they may end up paying double!,

"If the goal is to increase adoption, a [Vista Enterprise] price increase doesn’t seem like the smart way to do it, especially given the bad feelings that a lot of enterprise customers are going to feel having purchased three-year SA licenses for Windows and Office in September 2003 with the assumption that they were buying upgrade rights to Longhorn and Office 12. Oops." in

"By the way, Kevin confirmed that Microsoft would charge more for Windows Vista Ultimate, and presumably Windows Vista Enterprise, than current Windows XP pricing. He described the increase "modest." Maybe, but it's also the first Windows price increase in more than a decade."

So, this also means that customers whose Microsoft Enterprise Agreement is expiring after Vista/MS Office shipping date, have yet another reason NOT to renew their Microsoft Enterprise Agreement!